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  Electronic endoscope systemRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Endoscope, Having Imaging And Illumination MeansThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060178565. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system that is capable of displaying auto-fluorescent image for observing or diagnosing a lesion such as a cancer. Especially, it relates to a signal process when a video-scope, adapted to display auto-fluorescent image, is used. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In an electronic endoscope system with an auto-fluorescent observation function, light, having a wavelength in the ultraviolet range or in that vicinity (hereinafter, called "exciting-light"), is emitted to the epithelium of an organ such as the lungs. Tissue in the epithelial layer has a fluorescent substance, which emits fluorescent light when the exciting-light is illuminated there on. A subject image is formed on an image sensor provided on a tip portion of a video-scope, due to the fluorescent light passing through an objective lens, so that an image based on fluorescent light (hereinafter, called an "auto-fluorescent image") is displayed on a monitor. Since the amount of auto-fluorescent light that a lesion or abnormal tissue emits is weak compared to the normal tissue, luminance of the lesion or the area adjacent to the lesion in an auto-fluorescent image is relatively small, thus the lesion can be easily detected compared to a normal image obtained by a white light emitted from such as a xenon lamp. [0005] Since the exciting-light that is reflected on the epithelial layer and that is directed toward the image sensor becomes an obstruction when forming the auto-fluorescent image, a filter for blocking or cutting off light having a wavelength corresponding to the exciting-light, is provided at the front of the image sensor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope system that is capable of displaying an observed image with an adequate luminance and color in a condition where a video-scope with a filter for blocking the exciting-light is used. An electronic endoscope system according to the present invention has a light source unit that is capable of selectively emitting normal-light and exciting-light. The normal-light is utilized for normal-observation, namely, for displaying a normal color observed image. The normal-light is generally white light, and the spectrum distribution is generally uniform over the wavelength of visible-light. Exciting-light is the light used for emitting auto-fluorescent light from tissue in an epithelial layer, and has a specific wavelength. The wavelength of the exciting-light is basically in the range of ultraviolet light, however, there are other types of exciting-light, which have a given wavelength included in the wavelength of the visible-light. The exciting-light makes the tissue emit auto-fluorescent light, by which an auto-fluorescent image is formed. For example, the normal-light or fluorescent light is selectively emitted in accordance with an operation of a button. Further, when generating composite signals, wherein an auto-fluorescent image is superimposed on a normal image, the light source unit alternately emits the normal-light and the exciting-light while synchronizing with the signal-reading time-intervals. [0007] In the electronic endoscope system, a plurality of video-scopes is selectively used and connected to an endoscope component, such as a video-processor with a light source unit or an exclusive light-source unit. The video-scope with an image sensor has an exciting-light eliminating or cut off filter. The exciting-light eliminating filter is provided in front of the image sensor, and blocks or cuts off the exciting-light. An image signal processor provided in electronic endoscope system processes image signals read from the image sensor, to generate video signals. To enable one video-processor or the light source unit to be adaptable various types video-scopes, for example, a video-scope detector that detects the spectrum transmittance characteristics of the exciting-light eliminating filter provided in a connected video-scope, is provided. The light source unit emits exciting-light depending upon the spectrum transmittance characteristics. [0008] According to the present invention, the image signal processor processes the image signals so as to compensate for a change of at least one of luminance and color in an observed image. This change occurs due to light blocked in accordance with the spectrum transmittance characteristics of the exciting-light eliminating filter. Each exciting-light eliminating filter has particular spectrum transmittance characteristics, one eliminating filter cuts off light having a wavelength in the range of ultraviolet light, other filters cut off light having a wavelength in the visible-light. The image processor processes the image signals, not to cause a change of the observed image with respect to luminance or color, or both luminance and color. The image signals are automatically corrected so that an observed image with adequate color and luminance quality is displayed regardless of the type of video-scope, and the spectrum transmittance characteristics of the filter. For example, the image signal processor can be provided in the video-scope. [0009] To process the image signals using an easy construction, for example, the image signal processor has a signal processing circuit, and a signal controller. The signal processing circuit processes the image signals by using coefficients, such as a matrix-operation for generating Red (R), green (G), Blue (B) signals or luminance and color difference signals (Y, Cb, Cr). The signal controller sets the coefficients to compensation coefficients that compensate for the change. For example, the signal controller sets normal-light coefficients corresponding to the normal-light as the compensation coefficients, and sets exciting-light coefficients corresponding to the fluorescent light as the compensation coefficients. The signal processing circuit processes the image signals by using the normal-light coefficients when the light source unit emits normal-light, and processes the image signals by using the exciting-light coefficients when the light source unit emits exciting-light. [0010] To perform compensation process by utilizing a data process, a first memory that stores the compensation coefficients as data, and a second memory that is provided in the signal processing circuit and stores the compensation coefficients as data, are provided. The signal controller reads the compensation coefficients from the first memory and writes the compensation coefficients in the second memory. The signal processing circuit processes the image signals in accordance with the written compensation coefficients. [0011] A video-scope that does not adapt to the auto-fluorescent observed image, namely, that does not have an exciting-light eliminating filer, is connectable to the video-processor, or the light source unit. To prohibit the radiation of the exciting-light in a case where such a video-scope is connected, a video-scope type detector and a light source controller are provided. The video-scope type controller detects whether a connected video-scope is adaptable for the exciting-light. The light source controller prevents the light source unit from emitting the exciting-light when the connected video-scope is not adaptable to the exciting-light. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The present invention will be better understood from the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention set forth below together with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope system according to the present embodiment; [0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the video-scope; [0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the video-processor; [0016] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the light source unit; [0017] FIG. 5 is a front view of a rotary shutter; [0018] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the video-scope; [0019] FIG. 7 is a view showing data associated with the signal process; [0020] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of initial setting process performed by the system control circuit; and [0021] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the main routine performed by the system control circuit. Continue reading... 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